Final stretch of regular season has teams working for playoff position
As the 2021 high school football season hits the home stretch, it generally means its time to begin serious jockeying for playoff position.
That’s certainly the case for the four local teams.
With three weeks to go, one team is sitting pretty, another has some work to do and two more have to take care of their own business while also getting a little help in the right games.
Here’s a look at where the four local teams sit as we enter Week 8 of the season:
District 3A-1
Kingfisher could have done itself a world of good by winning last week.
However, a rash of injuries, combined with a very good Perkins-Tryon team, made sure that wasn’t going to happen.
That leaves three teams - KHS, Anadarko and Perkins - with 3-1 marks in District 3A-1.
Heritage Hall sits alone at the top at 4-0 while Mount St. Mary is 2-2.
Although KHS has a shot at still claiming the district by winning out, just making the playoffs isn’t a give - especially considering the precarious injury situation.
Simply, Kingfisher needs to win two of its last three games.
Those are home with Mount St. Mary this week, at Heritage Hall and then home with Anadarko in Week 10.
It doesn’t take high school sports genius to tell you which two of the three games give KHS the best chance for winning.
But if you’re wondering…it’s the two home games.
Victories in those games would give Kingfisher the third seed in the district and would head to the No. 2 seed out of District 2 (don’t get me started on that mess…it’s going to go down to Week 10 over there, too).
Two losses in the last three games for Kingfisher? Things get dicey.
So, just win baby…and all will be good.
District 2A-1
That Blackwell loss a couple weeks ago really hurt Hennessey.
That put the Eagles in a logjam of three teams with a shot at claiming the fourth spot in the district.
The other two? Blackwell and Alva.
Blackwell already beat the Eagles. Alva is this week’s foe.
Essentially, if Hennessey is going to have any shot, it has to beat Alva this week.
While they’re at it…they need to get every district point they can (15 is the max).
Then, hope Alva beats Blackwell when those two square off in Week 10.
Provided that gives all three the same district record (keep in mind, other games have to play out how WE THINK they will), it will come down to those district points.
District A-3
Cashion sits in the driver’s seat.
The Wildcats are tied with Tonkawa at 3-0…and those two play in Week 9 for, presumably, the district crown.
They’ll also play Crescent in Week 10.
But the Wildcats are all but assured of a spot, regardless of how those games play out.
But, they no doubt want the district title and the two guaranteed home games that come with it.
Poor Crescent.
The Tigers are 0-2 in the district and no easy games on the horizon.
Making matters worse?
They’re just a few snaps from being 2-0.
To have any kind of shot, Crescent has to pick up wins against OCA and Hinton.
If the Tigers do that - and other games play out like we think - they’ll make their way in.
A loss in two of their last three makes it much more difficult.